Skill Tree Chronicles: One Piece

"What? The Whitebeard Pirates invaded Border Island?"

A man with two prominent horns on his head, his hair swept to one side, and a beast-like mask hung loosely from his face, slammed the receiver of the Den Den Mushi.

He turned and glanced at his slightly eccentric elder sister with a serious look.

This man was Page One, one of the Tobi Roppo—the Flying Six of the Beasts Pirates.

"Sis, Border Island's been overrun. Kaido-sama wants us on the move—immediately."

"Yohoo! Another bunch of idiots to bash!"

Ulti, also of the Flying Six, wore her trademark horned headpiece and mask. Her airheaded, temperamental attitude belied the incredible strength hidden beneath her childish voice.

Mace in hand, she was already fantasizing about the battlefield.

"You two are still here? I'm heading out first!"

Fukurokuju, with a flicker of soru and geppo, leapt into the air and sped off toward the nearest port.

This former CP9 agent, now known as Fuzifu, had defected to the Beasts Pirates years ago after failing a critical World Government mission and becoming a fugitive.

"Don't let them outpace us," Page One muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, and followed with a sigh.

"Alright, alright!" Ulti chirped, skipping behind.

Fuzifu reviewed the intelligence report in his hand, a hidden smirk forming.

Ever since Shen Yuan had stormed Enies Lobby and looted the Ancient Zoan—Sabertooth Tiger Devil Fruit, Fuzifu had been quietly biding his time.

Now, though...

This could be his chance.

If he could extract Marco the Phoenix's bloodline factor, there was a small but real chance he could forcibly awaken a Mythical Zoan pathway, and—if paired with his own Devil Fruit—open the second layer of his Awakening Skill Tree.

He visualized another name in his mind.

Red-Haired Shanks.

"Damn you, Shanks... If not for you intercepting that Gum-Gum Fruit transport years ago, I wouldn't be in this mess."

That failed mission had destroyed Fuzifu's career—and reputation—within Cipher Pol.

And ever since, he had vowed vengeance.

His real plan? Defeat Marco, trigger conflict between Kaido and Shanks, then strike from the shadows.

As his body glided over the sea using Geppo, his murderous thoughts brewed.

Elsewhere—

Aboard another ship, Sasaki sat cross-legged.

His face showed a mix of disdain and amusement.

"That old relic Whitebeard still wants to make waves? I'll crush his ambitions with my own hands."

He held a Den Den Mushi and issued orders:

"All units, mobilize and gather intel on enemy hierarchy. Prioritize combatants with known Awakening potential."

From the other end came acknowledgment, and Sasaki hung up.

A moment later, a silver-haired man in a white cloak and katana at his side appeared.

Senbonmatsu, the cold and calculating swordsman of the Flying Six.

"Hey, Senbonmatsu—don't you dare steal my glory," Sasaki warned.

"Glory goes to the swift," the man replied with a sly grin.

Meanwhile—

Jack the Drought, one of Kaido's All-Stars, was still en route.

He slumped on the deck of his massive warship, visibly irritated.

Despite his fury, his ship was just too slow!

Could he jump into the sea and push it? Obviously not—he was a Fish-Fish Fruit: Ancient Zoan Model: Mammoth user.

Still, he wanted revenge. His comrade had fallen to Shen Yuan's forces.

At that moment—

On Border Island itself, the battle had already turned one-sided.

Six or seven Gifters—Kaido's lower-tier troops who had failed artificial SMILE awakenings—lay injured or bound.

Vista, the Fifth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, rubbed his chin and glanced at the bound opponents.

"Brother Shen, do you think what I mentioned earlier might actually happen?"

"It's highly probable," Shen Yuan replied calmly, squatting beside him, eyeing the grotesque figures.

One snarling Rattlesnake Gifter glared at Shen Yuan, chuckling ominously.

But Shen Yuan coldly responded, "You're dead."

And before the Gifter could even process the words, his head was cleaved cleanly by Shen Yuan's golden halberd.

"His eyes irritated me. Alright everyone, smile! As the saying goes—smile and you'll live ten years longer!"

But the resulting forced grins were more hideous than sincere.

"Forget it. Kill the rest. Feed them to the sea kings."

Shen Yuan turned and left, hands folded behind his back.

Beside him, Enel and Vista stared with bloodshot eyes, silent but fierce.

"Hey, Author! Don't mess with old proverbs!"

Is it "smile and you live ten years longer" or "smile and age ten years slower"?

This is a tonal language issue! Get your idioms straight!

Shen Yuan stood before a lineup of Devil Fruits, but still hadn't found the one he sought.

"Continue the attack," he commanded.

The squad responded immediately, battle-ready as if the morning skirmish had never happened.

"There—see that small island? There's definitely something useful there."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"Let's go hunting in the forest. Bring back lunch."

Moments later, the entire crew split up for a jungle expedition.

Back at sea, Jack rose... then sat.

Rose... then sat again.

"Urgh…"

Jack's face twitched. Even his Shortel scimitar nearly slipped from his hand.

Q: Why is he so slow?

A: Because Jack is over 20 tons in hybrid mammoth form!

Thirty minutes passed.

The Shen Yuan pirates were now well-fed, stretched, and had regrouped into battle formation.

Jack, however, was still seated on his ship, watching waves crash.

Suddenly—

"Boss Jack! We've reached the waters near Border Island!"

Jack's blank stare sharpened instantly.

"Anchor closer! Prepare to land!"

Gripping his Shortel blade, his bloodlust ignited.

Back on the island—

Shen Yuan stood up, cracking his neck as popping sounds echoed.

"Is it Jack?" Marco muttered.

Jack the Drought. One of the All-Stars. Kaido's right hand.

If he fell here, Kaido might retaliate—personally—from Onigashima.

"Commander Shen! What should we do?"

Shen Yuan stood calmly at the front.

"Everyone hide in the forest. I'll face Jack one-on-one."

"Why?" Marco asked, confused and a bit hesitant.

"You know about Kaido's Calamities—but do you also know the Flying Six?"

Marco's eyes widened.

"You mean… Kaido's elite reinforcements are coming too?"

Shen Yuan nodded.

And in the distance, ships appeared on the horizon.

"Prepare your ambushes," Marco barked.

Because this… this was about to be the first clash between two of the Four Emperors' top cadres.

Shen Yuan addressed his troops, voice echoing across the trees.

"Many of us may die today."

"But hear this: We don't fight for the sake of war. We fight… for the peace that comes after it!"

With that, his men erupted:

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Shen Yuan looked at their roars and clenched his fists.

Q: Does Shen Yuan have personal motives?

A: Yes. And they're not small.

First—he covets the Dark-Dark Fruit (Yami Yami no Mi).

Second—he aims to seize Kaido's territory and expand his forces.

His ultimate ambition?

To become the pinnacle of this pirate world.

To unveil the hidden truth of the One Piece world.

And to someday...

March on Marijoa.

Because a world governed by the Celestial Dragons—the elite ruling class—is incompatible with the kind of education and freedom Shen Yuan once believed in.

He fights not only for power...

…but to spark a revolution.

A bloody one.

Because sometimes, the only path forward is to carve it—with your own fists.